Coupling for tender, &amp;c.



m. 75,728. Patented Dec. 9, I902.

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COUPLING FOR TENDERS, &c.

(Applicdtion filed. June 23, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shea: I.

fivgzisssm v a). EIAIVENTOR'Z 24, mm.

Patented nee. 9. I902.

' W. WRIGHT.

COU PLING FOR TEN 0 E38, &c.

(Application filed June 23 1902.)

2 Sheets-Shae 2.

(No Model.)

WlTN ESSES lqweu'ron UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WRIGHT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCONWAY &TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

COUPLING F-oR TENDERS, 84o.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 715,728, datedDecember 9, 1902.

Application filed June 23,1902.

and locomotives. On account of the construction of the frame of theengine and tender the couplers are generally secured to the transverseend sills or buffing-beams of the engine and tender in such manner as toprevent any material lateral swing of the coupler as a train passesaround a curve, so that the coupling mechanisms are subjected to veryinjurious strains, especially when the curves are of short radius.

The invention described herein has for its object a construction wherebyconsiderable lateral movement of the coupler is permitted and the latterwill be automatically returned and held in mid-position.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a top plan view of my improved coupling mechanism. Fig. 2 is asectional'elevation of the I same, on an enlarged scale, the plane ofsection being indicated by the line II II, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is asectional detail view.

In the practice of my invention asocket 1, having a base-flange 2, issecured to the end sills or buifer-beams of the tender or engine bymeans of bolts passing through said flange and into the beams. Withinthis socket is pivoted a draft-bar 3, being held in position by a pin 4passing through the upper and lower walls of the socket and the end ofthe draft-bar 3. To the outer end of the draftbar the coupler 5 ispivotally connected by means of a pin 6, said head being provided with atongue 7, projecting rearwardly from the pivotal point intoan opening orrecess formed in the draft-bar. This tongue bears upon ribs 8, formed inthe draft-bar and serves as a support vertically for the coupler-head,

Serial No. 112,841. (No model.)

ing so arranged and constructed as to come into contact with each otherbefore the supporting tailpiece 7 will strike against the sides of thedraft-bar. In order to hold the draft-bar and coupler in a centralposition and at the same time permit a lateral movement of the draft-barand coupler as trains pass around a curve, I provide resilient bearingson each side of the draft-bar, such bearings being placed undersufficient tension to hold the coupler-head as against lateral movementduring a coupling of a car to the tender or engine. A convenientconstruction for this purpose consists of rods 10 and 10 pivotallyconnected to opposite sides of the draft-bar or coupler andextendingthrough sockets 11 ll, pivotally mounted upon the mainsocket 1. Springs 12 and 12 are arranged around the rods 10 and 10 andhave their inner ends arranged within'the sockets 11 and 11*, Whiletheir outer ends are arranged within sockets 13 and 13*, secured totherods in any suitable manner. By this construction when the draft-bar isshifted for any reason in one direction-say to the right in Fig. 1-thespring 12 on the left of the coupler or draft-bar would be subjected toa compressive strain, so that when the coupler or draft-bar is relievedfrom its lateral pressure spring 12 will pull it back to normalposition. During the movement of the draftbar or coupler to the rightthe rod l0 will simply slide through the socket 11 and re lieve thetension on the spring 12. By pivotally mounting the sockets 11 upon themain socket or support and having the rods 10 pivot-ally connected tothe draft-bar no lateral twisting or strain will be applied to any ofthese parts. While not necessary, it is preferred to limit the lateralmovement of the draft-bar or coupler by means of stops 14: and 145,formed on the inner walls of the main socket, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the lower wall of the main socket 1 extends outa considerable distance and forms a vertical supportingledge for thedraft-bar and coupler, so that.

the main pivot-pin 3 will not be subjected to undue lateral strains.

Couplers for tenders have heretofore been constructed with arms arrangedparallel with the draft stem or link and springs interposed between thearms and the stems. This construction is in most cases undesirable onaccount of the friction between the sides of the stems and thebearing-plates of the springs or cushions When the coupler and stem areswung laterally, and, further, by the interposition of the springsbetween the arms and stem the latter can have but small lateralmovement. It is characteristic of my improvement that the rods andcushions are so arranged that there will not be any friction when thecoupler is swung laterally, and, further, as the points of bearing, ofthe springs on the socket are in the rear of the points of connection ofthe rods l0 to the stem or draft-bar and the springs are normally underconsiderable tension these devices form part of the draft mechanism andin case the pin 4 is broken can support the entire strain.

I claim herein as my in vention- 1. A coupler mechanism for tenders,&c., having" in combination, a supporting-socket, a draft-bar pivotallymounted in the socket,

a coupler-head carried by the draft-bar and oscillating cushionsarranged on opposite sides of the draft-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. A coupler mechanism for tenders, 650., having in combination, asupporting-socket, a draft-bar pivotally mounted in the socket, acoupler-head, spring seats or sockets pivotally mounted on thesupporting-socket, rods connected to the draft-bar and springs havingbearings on the rods and the seats, substantially as set forth.

3. A coupling, mechanism for tenders having in combination a separatesocket, a draftbar pi votally mounted in the socket, a coupler-headpivotally mounted on the draft-bar and yielding connections from thedraft-bar to the socket, substantially as set forth.

4. A coupling, mechanism for tenders, &c., having. in combination asupporting-socket, a draft-bar pivotally mounted in the socket, acoupling-head carried by the draft-bar, cushions arranged oulside of thesocket and connected to the draft-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER.

